The New Indian Express ·
For a roof of their own: Why Karnataka's Koraga families are still without homes
MANGALURU: More than 100 years ago, social reformer Kudmul Ranga Rao bought land in parts of present-day Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to build houses and schools for the Koraga community, aiming to bring social dignity and empowerment to one of Karnataka’s most marginalised groups.
A century later, many Koraga families, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), are still struggling for the most basic symbol of dignity -- a safe home.
Government housing schemes have reached their doorsteps on paper, but many beneficiaries have been unable to convert sanctions into completed houses. Illiteracy, lack of awareness, absence of social support networks, rising construction costs and procedural hurdles have turned many housing schemes into unfinished dreams.